U.S. patent number 5,307,605 [Application Number 07/923,117] was granted by the patent office on 1994-05-03 for method and apparatus for providing a wrapper for a floral grouping having a flap for closing the upper end or the lower end of the wrapper.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Highland Supply Corporation. Invention is credited to William F. Straeter.
United States Patent |
5,307,605 |
Straeter |
May 3, 1994 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Method and apparatus for providing a wrapper for a floral grouping
having a flap for closing the upper end or the lower end of the
wrapper
Abstract
A wrapper for a floral grouping formed from a sheet of material
having a closure bonding material on a portion thereof. The sheet
of material is wrapped about the floral grouping with the closure
bonding material securing the sheet of material in a wrapped
position about the floral grouping to form the wrapper. A top flap
is folded over an open upper end of the wrapper and connected to
the wrapper to prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the
wrapper and extending out from the open upper end of the wrapper.
In one form, a bottom flap is connected to the wrapper and extends
over an open lower end of the wrapper to prevent the floral
grouping from shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the
open lower end of the wrapper.
Inventors: |
Straeter; William F. (Breese,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Highland Supply Corporation
(Highland, IL)
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Family
ID: |
27559363 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/923,117 |
Filed: |
July 30, 1992 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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803318 |
Dec 4, 1991 |
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707417 |
May 28, 1991 |
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502358 |
Mar 29, 1990 |
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391463 |
Aug 9, 1989 |
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249761 |
Sep 26, 1988 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
53/397; 53/415;
53/416; 53/465; 53/466 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01G
5/04 (20130101); A47G 7/085 (20130101); B29C
61/02 (20130101); B29C 61/0608 (20130101); B31F
1/0045 (20130101); B65B 25/02 (20130101); B65B
25/026 (20130101); B65B 67/08 (20130101); B65D
33/20 (20130101); B65D 33/22 (20130101); B65D
65/14 (20130101); B65D 65/22 (20130101); B65D
75/14 (20130101); B65D 75/54 (20130101); B65D
85/505 (20130101); B65D 85/52 (20130101); G09F
3/10 (20130101); G09F 23/00 (20130101); G09F
23/105 (20130101); A01M 1/02 (20130101); B31B
50/81 (20170801); B29C 51/082 (20130101); B29C
57/00 (20130101); B65D 85/36 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01G
5/00 (20060101); A01G 5/04 (20060101); A47G
7/08 (20060101); A47G 7/00 (20060101); B31B
1/90 (20060101); B31F 1/00 (20060101); B29C
61/00 (20060101); B31B 1/74 (20060101); B29C
61/06 (20060101); B29C 61/02 (20060101); B65D
33/18 (20060101); B65D 33/22 (20060101); B65D
33/20 (20060101); B65B 25/02 (20060101); B65B
67/00 (20060101); B65D 65/22 (20060101); B65D
65/14 (20060101); B65D 75/04 (20060101); B65D
75/52 (20060101); B65D 85/52 (20060101); B65B
67/08 (20060101); B65D 75/54 (20060101); B65D
65/02 (20060101); B65D 85/50 (20060101); B65D
75/14 (20060101); G09F 23/00 (20060101); G09F
3/10 (20060101); B29C 51/08 (20060101); B29C
57/00 (20060101); B65D 85/30 (20060101); B65D
85/36 (20060101); B65B 011/02 (); B65B 011/48 ();
B65B 051/04 (); B65B 025/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;53/397,399,410,415,465,474,416,465,466,480 ;47/72,79,80,81 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2036163 |
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Dec 1970 |
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FR |
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2272914 |
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Dec 1975 |
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FR |
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2610604 |
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Aug 1988 |
|
FR |
|
Other References
Exhibit A-"The Simple Solution For Those Peak Volume Periods",
Highland Supply Speed Cover.RTM. Brochure, 1989.COPYRGT., 6 pages.
.
Exhibit B-"Speed Sheets.RTM. And Speed Rolls", Highland Supply
Speed Sheets.RTM. Brochure, 1990.COPYRGT., 2 pages. .
Exhibit C-"A World of Cut Flower and Pot Plant Packaging", Klerk's
Plastic Products Manufacturing, Inc. Brochure, date unknown, 6
pages. .
Exhibit D-A fan-folded "Post-It.RTM." Note Pad, R-330, 1 pad (100
sheets) 3".times.3" (76.2 mm.times.76.2 mm). Manufactured by 3M
Commercial Office Supply Division, St. Paul, Min. 55144-1000. .
Exhibit E-A 6539 note pad "Highland.RTM." Brand, Self-stick
Removable Notes, 1 pad (100 sheets) 11/2".times.2" (38.1
mm.times.50.8 mm). Manufactured by 3M Commercial Office Supply
Division, St. Paul, Minn. 55144-1000..
|
Primary Examiner: Culver; Horace M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dunlap, Codding & Lee
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. Ser.
No. 803,318, filed Dec. 4, 1991, entitled "WRAPPING MATERIAL FOR
WRAPPING A FLORAL GROUPING HAVING STAGGERED STRIPS OF ADHESIVE
APPLIED THERETO AND METHOD", which is a continuation-in-part of
U.S. Ser. No. 707,417, filed May 28, 1991, now abandoned entitled
"WRAPPING A FLORAL GROUPING WITH SHEETS HAVING ADHESIVE OR COHESIVE
MATERIAL APPLIED THERETO", which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.
502,358, filed Mar. 29, 1990, now abandoned, entitled "WRAPPING A
FLORAL GROUPING WITH SHEETS HAVING ADHESIVE OR COHESIVE MATERIAL
APPLIED THERETO", which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.
391,463, filed Aug. 9, 1989, now abandoned entitled "ADHESIVE
APPLICATOR," which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.
249,761, filed Sep. 26, 1988, now abandoned, entitled "METHOD FOR
WRAPPING AN OBJECT IN A MATERIAL HAVING PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE
THEREON".
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for wrapping a floral grouping comprising:
providing a sheet of material having an upper surface and a lower
surface with a closure bonding material on at least one of the
upper and the lower surfaces thereof and with a flap bonding
material on at least one of the upper and the lower surfaces
thereof;
providing a floral grouping having a stem end and a bloom end;
disposing the floral grouping on the upper surface of the sheet of
material;
wrapping the sheet of material about the floral grouping and
disposing the closure bonding material adjacent a portion of the
sheet of material whereby the closure bonding material bondingly
engages and bondingly connects to the adjacent portion of the sheet
of material for cooperating to secure the sheet of material wrapped
about the floral grouping providing a wrapper for the floral
grouping with an open upper end and an open lower end, the sheet of
material being sized and the floral grouping being positioned on
the sheet of material whereby a portion of the sheet of material
extends beyond the open upper end to form a flap with the flap
bonding material being on the flap; and
folding the flap over the open upper end of the wrapper and
securing the flap end of the flap to the wrapper by way of the flap
bonding material for cooperating to secure the flap in a position
extending over the open upper end of the wrapper to substantial
prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the wrapper and
extending out from the open upper end of the wrapper.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing the sheet of
material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
constructed of a material selected from a group of materials
consisting of a man-made organic polymer film, metal foil, fiber
(woven or unwoven, natural or synthetic) denim, cellophane or
burlap or combinations thereof.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing the sheet of
material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
having a thickness in a range from about 0.2 mils to about 30
mils.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a sheet of
material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
having a thickness in a range from about 0.2 mils to about 10
mils.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing the sheet of
material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side,
and wherein the closure bonding material is defined further as
being disposed at least near the first end and extending generally
between the first and the second sides of the sheet of
material.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of providing the sheet of
material is defined further as providing the sheet of material with
the flap bonding material being disposed at least near the first
side and at least near the second end of the sheet of material.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step for providing a sheet of
material is defined further as providing the sheet of material with
the closure bonding material and the flap bonding material on the
upper surface of the sheet of material.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet of
material about the floral grouping to form the wrapper is defined
further as wrapping the sheet of material about the floral grouping
to form the wrapper and wrapping the sheet of material tightly
about the stem end of the floral grouping.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet of
material about the floral grouping to form the wrapper is defined
further as wrapping the sheet of material about the floral grouping
to form the wrapper and tightly wrapping the sheet of material
about the stem end with a portion of the stem end of the floral
grouping extending through the open lower end of the wrapper.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet of
material about the floral grouping is defined further as wrapping
the sheet of material about the floral grouping to form the wrapper
with the wrapper substantially encompassing the bloom end of the
floral grouping with the bloom end of the floral grouping being
visible by way of the open upper end of the wrapper prior to the
flap being folded over the open upper end of the wrapper.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet of
material further comprises wrapping the sheet of material about the
floral grouping to form the wrapper with the wrapper being about
conically shaped.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet of
material further comprises wrapping the sheet of material about the
floral grouping to form the wrapper and the wrapper being about
cylindrically shaped.
13. A method for wrapping a floral grouping comprising:
providing a sheet of material having an upper surface and a lower
surface with a closure bonding material on at least one of the
upper and the lower surfaces thereof;
providing a floral grouping having a stem end and a bloom end;
disposing the floral grouping on the upper surface of the sheet of
material;
wrapping the sheet of material about the floral grouping and
disposing the closure bonding material adjacent a portion of the
sheet of material whereby the closure bonding material bondingly
engages and bondingly connects to the adjacent portion of the sheet
of material for cooperating to secure the sheet of material wrapped
about the floral grouping providing a wrapper for the floral
grouping with an open upper end and an open lower end;
providing a top flap having a first end and a second end;
connecting the first end of the flap to a portion of the wrapper
near the open upper end thereof and folding the flap over the open
upper end of the wrapper and connecting the second end of the top
flap to another portion of the wrapper near the open upper end
thereof for cooperating to secure the top flap in a position
extending over the open upper end of the wrapper to substantially
prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the wrapper and
extending out from the open upper end of the wrapper.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of providing the sheet
of material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
constructed of a material selected from a group of materials
consisting of a man-made organic polymer film, metal foil, fiber
(woven or unwoven, natural or synthetic) denim, cellophane or
burlap or combinations thereof.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of providing the sheet
o material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
having a thickness in a range from about 0.2 mils to about 30
mils.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of providing a sheet of
material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
having a thickness in a range from about 0.2 mils to about 10
mils.
17. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of providing the sheet
of material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side,
and wherein the closure bonding material is defined further as
being disposed at least near the first end and extending generally
between the first and the second sides of the sheet of
material.
18. The method of claim 13 The method of claim 1 wherein the step
of wrapping the sheet of material about the floral grouping to form
the wrapper is defined further as wrapping the sheet of material
about the floral grouping to form the wrapper and wrapping the
sheet of material tightly about the stem end of the floral
grouping.
19. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material about the floral grouping to form the wrapper is
defined further as wrapping the sheet of material about the floral
grouping to form the wrapper and tightly wrapping the sheet of
material about the stem end with a portion of the stem end of the
floral grouping extending through the open lower end of the
wrapper.
20. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material about the floral grouping is defined further as
wrapping the sheet of material about the floral grouping to form
the wrapper with the wrapper substantially encompassing the bloom
end of the floral grouping with the bloom end of the floral
grouping being visible by way of the open upper end of the wrapper
prior to the flap being folded over the open upper end of the
wrapper.
21. The method of claim 13 further comprising:
providing a bottom flap having a first end and a second end;
and
connecting the first end of the bottom flap to a portion of the
wrapper and folding the bottom flap over the open lower end of the
wrapper and connecting the second end of the bottom flap to another
portion of the wrapper for cooperating to secure the bottom flap in
a position extending over the open lower end of the wrapper to
substantially prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the
wrapper and extending a distance out from the open lower end of the
wrapper.
22. A method for wrapping a floral grouping comprising:
providing a sheet of material having an upper surface and a lower
surface with a closure bonding material on at least one of the
upper and the lower surfaces thereof;
providing a floral grouping having a stem end and a bloom end;
disposing the floral grouping on the upper surface of the sheet of
material;
wrapping the sheet of material about the floral grouping and
disposing the closure bonding material adjacent a portion of the
sheet of material whereby the closure bonding material bondingly
engages and bondingly connects to the adjacent portion of the sheet
of material for cooperating to secure the sheet of material wrapped
about the floral grouping providing a wrapper for the floral
grouping with an open upper end and an open lower end;
providing a top flap having a first end and a second end with a
flap bonding material disposed on the top flap;
connecting the first end of the top flap to a portion of the
wrapper near the open upper end of the wrapper by disposing at
least a portion of the flap bonding material on the top flap
adjacent the portion of the wrapper and bondingly connecting the
first end of the top flap to the wrapper;
folding the flap over the open upper end of the wrapper to a
position wherein a portion of the flap bonding material near the
second end of the top flap is disposed adjacent another portion of
the wrapper and bondingly connects the second end of the top flap
to the wrapper for cooperating to secure the top flap in a position
extending over the open upper end of the wrapper to substantially
prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the wrapper and
extending out from the open upper end of the wrapper.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material further comprises wrapping the sheet of material about
the floral grouping to form the wrapper with the wrapper being
about conically shaped.
24. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material further comprises wrapping the sheet of material about
the floral grouping to form the wrapper and the wrapper being about
cylindrically shaped.
25. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of providing the sheet
of material is define further as providing the sheet of material
constructed of a material selected from a group of materials
consisting of a man-made organic polymer film, metal foil, fiber
(woven or unwoven, natural or synthetic) denim, cellophane or
burlap or combinations thereof.
26. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of providing the sheet
of material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
having a thickness in a range from about 0.2 mils to about 30
mils.
27. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of providing a sheet of
material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
having a thickness in a range from about 0.2 mils to about 10
mils.
28. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of providing the sheet
of material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side,
and wherein the closure bonding material is defined further as
being disposed at least near the first end and extending generally
between the first and the second sides of the sheet of
material.
29. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material about the floral grouping to form the wrapper is
defined further as wrapping the sheet of material about the floral
grouping to form the wrapper and wrapping the sheet of material
tightly about the stem end of the floral grouping.
30. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material about the floral grouping to form the wrapper is
defined further as wrapping the sheet of material about the floral
grouping to form the wrapper and tightly wrapping the sheet of
material about the stem end with a portion of the stem end of the
floral grouping extending through the open lower end of the
wrapper.
31. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material about the floral grouping is defined further as
wrapping the sheet of material about the floral grouping to form
the wrapper with the wrapper substantially encompassing the bloom
end of the floral grouping with the bloom end of the floral
grouping being visible by way of the open upper end of the wrapper
prior to the flap being folded over the open upper end of the
wrapper.
32. The method of claim 22 further comprising:
providing a bottom flap having a first end and a second end;
and
connecting the first end of the bottom flap to a portion of the
wrapper and folding the bottom flap over the open lower end of the
wrapper and connecting the second end of the bottom flap to another
portion of the wrapper for cooperating to secure the bottom flap in
a position extending over the open lower end of the wrapper to
substantially prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the
wrapper and extending a greater distance out from the open lower
end of the wrapper.
33. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material further comprises wrapping the sheet of material about
the floral grouping to form the wrapper with the wrapper being
about conically shaped.
34. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material further comprises wrapping the sheet of material about
the floral grouping to form the wrapper with the wrapper being
about cylindrically shaped.
35. A method for wrapping a floral grouping comprising:
providing a sheet of material having an upper surface and a lower
surface with a closure bonding material on at least one of the
upper and the lower surfaces thereof, a top flap being formed on a
portion of the sheet of material with a top flap extending a
distance from the sheet of material terminating with an end of the
top flap, a top flap bonding material being disposed on a portion
of the top flap;
providing a floral grouping having stem end and a bloom end;
disposing the floral grouping on the upper surface of the sheet of
material;
wrapping the sheet of material about the floral grouping and
disposing the closure bonding material adjacent a portion of the
sheet of material whereby the closure bonding material bondingly
engages and bondingly connects the adjacent portions of the sheet
of material for cooperating to secure the sheet of material wrapped
about the floral grouping providing a wrapper for the floral
grouping with an open upper end and an open lower end, the top flap
portion of the sheet of material extending a distance from the open
upper end of the wrapper: and
folding the top flap over the open upper end of the wrapper and
securing the end of the top flap to the wrapper for cooperating to
secure the top flap in a position extending over the open upper end
of the wrapper to substantially prevent the floral grouping from
shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the open upper end
of the wrapper.
36. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of providing the sheet
of material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
constructed of a material selected from a group of materials
consisting of a man-made organic polymer film, metal foil, fiber
(woven or unwoven, natural or synthetic) denim, cellophane or
burlap or combinations thereof.
37. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of providing the sheet
of material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
having a thickness in a range from about 0.2 mils to about 30
mils.
38. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of providing a sheet of
material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
having a thickness in a range from about 0.2 mils to about 10
mils.
39. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of providing the sheet
of material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side,
and wherein the closure bonding material is defined further as
being disposed at least near the first end and extending generally
between the first and the second sides of the sheet of
material.
40. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material about the floral grouping to form the wrapper is
defined further as wrapping the sheet of material about the floral
grouping to form the wrapper and wrapping the sheet of material
tightly about the stem end of the floral grouping.
41. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material about the floral grouping to form the wrapper is
defined further as wrapping the sheet of material about the floral
grouping to form the wrapper and tightly wrapping the sheet of
material about the stem end with a portion of the stem end of the
floral grouping extending through the open lower end of the
wrapper.
42. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material about the floral grouping is defined further as
wrapping the sheet of material about the floral grouping to form
the wrapper with the wrapper substantially encompassing the bloom
end of the floral grouping with the bloom end of the floral
grouping being visible by way of the open upper end of the wrapper
prior to the flap being folded over the open upper end of the
wrapper.
43. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material further comprises wrapping the sheet of material about
the floral grouping to form the wrapper with the wrapper being
about conically shaped.
44. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material further comprises wrapping the sheet of material about
the floral grouping to form the wrapper and the wrapper being about
cylindrically shaped.
45. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of providing the sheet
of material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
with a bottom flap being formed on a portion of the sheet of
material with the bottom flap extending a distance from the sheet
of material terminating with an end of the bottom flap, a flap
bonding material being disposed on a portion of the bottom flap,
and wherein the step of wrapping the sheet of material about the
floral grouping is defined further as wrapping the sheet of
material about the floral grouping to provide the wrapper wherein
the bottom flap extends a distance from the open lower end of the
wrapper, and wherein the method is defined further to comprise:
folding the bottom flap over the open lower end of the wrapper and
securing the end of the bottom flap to the wrapper for cooperating
to secure the bottom flap in a position extending over the open
lower end of the wrapper to substantially prevent the floral
grouping from shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the
open lower end of the wrapper.
46. A method for wrapping a floral grouping comprising:
providing a sheet of material having an upper surface and a lower
surface with a closure bonding material on at least one of the
upper and the lower surfaces thereof and with a flap bonding
material disposed on a portion of at least one of the upper and the
lower surfaces thereof;
providing a floral grouping having a stem end and a bloom end;
disposing the floral grouping on the upper surface of the sheet of
material;
wrapping the sheet of material about the floral grouping and
disposing the closure bonding material adjacent a portion of the
sheet of material whereby the closure bonding material bondingly
engages and bondingly connects to an adjacent portion of the sheet
of material for cooperating to secure the sheet of material in an
wrap position about the floral grouping forming the wrapper for the
floral grouping with an open upper end and an open lower end, the
flap bonding material on the sheet of material being disposed near
the open upper end of the wrapper and the portions of the sheet of
material near the open upper end of the wrapper being brought into
adjacent contact whereby the flap bonding material bondingly
engages either other portions of the flap bonding material or
adjacent portions of the sheet of material near the open upper end
thereof for connecting the adjacent portions of the sheet of
material and substantially closing the open upper end of the
wrapper.
47. The method of claim 46 wherein the step of providing the sheet
of material is further defined as providing the sheet of material
with a second bonding material on at least one of the upper and the
lower surface thereof, and wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material about the floral grouping to provide the wrapper as
further defined as wrapping the sheet of material about the floral
grouping to provide the wrapper with the second flap bonding
material being disposed near the open lower end of the wrapper, the
portions of the sheet of material near the open lower end of the
wrapper being brought into adjacent contact whereby adjacent
portions of the second flap bonding material bondingly engage
either adjacent portions of the flap bonding material or adjacent
portions of the sheet of material to connect adjacent portions of
the sheet of material near the open lower end of the wrapper for
substantially closing the open lower end of the wrapper.
48. The method of 46 wherein the step of providing the sheet of
material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
constructed of a material selected from a group of materials
consisting of a man-made organic polymer film, metal foil, fiber
(woven or unwoven, natural or synthetic) denim, cellophane or
burlap or combinations thereof.
49. The method of claim 46 wherein the step of providing the sheet
of material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
having a thickness in a range from about 0.2 mils to about 30
mils.
50. The method of claim 46 wherein the step of providing a sheet of
material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
having a thickness in a range from about 0.2 mils to about 10
mils.
51. The method of claim 46 wherein the step of providing the sheet
of material is defined further as providing the sheet of material
having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side,
and wherein the closure bonding material is defined further as
being disposed at least near the first end and extending generally
between the first and the second sides of the sheet of
material.
52. The method of claim 46 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material about the floral grouping to form the wrapper is
defined further as wrapping the sheet of material about the floral
grouping to form the wrapper and wrapping the sheet of material
tightly about the stem end of the floral grouping.
53. The method of claim 46 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material about the floral grouping to form the wrapper is
defined further as wrapping the sheet of material about the floral
grouping to form the wrapper and tightly wrapping the sheet of
material about the stem end with a portion of the stem end of the
floral grouping extending through the open lower end of the
wrapper.
54. The method of claim 46 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material about the floral grouping is defined further as
wrapping the sheet of material about the floral grouping to form
the wrapper with the wrapper substantially encompassing the bloom
end of the floral grouping with the bloom end of the floral
grouping being visible by way of the open upper end of the wrapper
prior to the flap being folded over the open upper end of the
wrapper.
55. The method of claim 46 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material further comprises wrapping the sheet of material about
the floral grouping to form the wrapper with the wrapper being
about conically shaped.
56. The method of claim 46 wherein the step of wrapping the sheet
of material further comprises wrapping the sheet of material about
the floral grouping to form the wrapper and the wrapper being about
cylindrically shaped.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a method for wrapping a
floral grouping and more particularly, but not by way of
limitation, to a sheet of material for wrapping a floral grouping
forming a wrapper with an open upper end and a top flap connected
to the wrapper and extending over the open upper end of the wrapper
to secure the top flap in a position extending over the open upper
end of the wrapper to substantially prevent the floral grouping
from shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the open upper
end of the wrapper.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sheet of material constructed in
accordance with the present invention showing one end portion of
the sheet of material folded over to expose the lower surface of
the sheet of material.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the sheet of material of FIG. 1
showing a floral grouping disposed on he upper surface of the sheet
of material prior to wrapping the sheet of material about the
floral grouping to form a wrapper.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a wrapper formed by wrapping the
sheet of material of FIG. 2 about the floral grouping and showing
the wrapper prior to the top flap being closed over the open upper
end of the wrapper.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the wrapper of FIG. 3 but showing
the top flap folded over the open upper end of the wrapper.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified wrapper.
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a modified sheet of material with the
top flap formed on the sheet of material.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the sheet of material of FIG. 6
wrapped about a floral grouping to form a wrapper and showing the
top flap prior to the top flap being folded over the open upper end
of the wrapper.
FIG. 8 is a top plan view of yet another modified sheet of
material, similar to FIG. 7, but showing a bottom flap also being
formed on the sheet of material.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the sheet of material of FIG.
8 wrapped about the floral grouping to form a wrapper with the
wrapper being shown prior to the top flap being folded over the
open upper end of the wrapper and prior to the bottom flap being
folded over the open lower end of the wrapper.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a sheet of material, identical to
the sheet of material shown in FIG. 1 but with no flap bonding
material disposed thereon and showing the sheet of material wrapped
about the floral grouping to form a wrapper and showing a top flap
and a bottom flap prior to the top and the bottom flaps being
connected to the wrapper.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the wrapper of FIG. 1 showing the
top and the bottom flaps folded over the respective open upper end
and open lower end of the wrapper and connected to the wrapper.
FIG. 12 is a plan view of a sheet of material, which is constructed
exactly like the sheet of material 10 shown in FIG. 1, except the
sheet of material includes a flap bonding material 84 and 86
disposed along opposite sides of the sheet extending between the
first and second ends 12e and 14e.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the sheet of material of FIG. 11,
wrapped around a floral grouping.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Shown in FIG. 1 and designated by the general reference numeral 10
is a sheet of material constructed in accordance with the present
invention. The sheet of material 10 may be constructed of any
material selected from a group of materials consisting of man-made
organic polymer film, metal foil, fiber (woven or unwoven or
natural or synthetic), denim, cellophane or burlap or combinations
thereof.
The sheet of material 10 has a first end 12, a second end 14, a
first side 16, a second side 18, an upper surface 20 and a lower
surface 22.
A closure bonding material 24 is disposed on the upper surface 20
of the sheet of material 10. The closure bonding material 24 is
disposed near the first end 12 of the sheet of material 10 and
extends generally between the first and the second sides 16 and 18
of the sheet of material 10. The closure bonding material may be an
adhesive type of material or a cohesive type of material. Where a
cohesive type of material is utilized, a cooperating cohesive type
of material also must be positioned on the lower surface 22 of the
sheet of material 10 for connecting to the cohesive closure bonding
material 24 disposed on the upper surface 20 when the sheet of
material is wrapped to form the wrapper, as will be described in
greater detail below.
A flap bonding material 26 is disposed on the upper surface 20 of
the sheet of material 10. The flap bonding material 26 more
particularly is disposed near the first side 16 of the sheet of
material 10 and near the second end 14 of the sheet of material 10.
Preferably, a portion of the flap bonding material 26 extends a
distance along with the first side 26 and a distance along the
second end 14 of the sheet of material 10 for reasons which will be
made more apparent. The flap bonding material 26 may be any of the
materials described before with respect to the closure bonding
material.
The term "man-made organic polymer film" means a man-made resin
such as a polypropylene as opposed to naturally occurring resins
such as cellophane.
A man-made organic polymer film is relatively strong and not as
subject to tearing (substantially non-tearable), as might be the
case with paper or foil. The man-made organic polymer film is a
substantially linearly linked processed organic polymer film and is
a synthetic linear chain organic polymer where the carbon atoms are
substantially linearly linked. Such films are synthetic polymers
formed or synthesized from monomers. Further, a relatively
substantially linearly linked processed organic polymer film is
virtually waterproof which may be desirable in many applications
such as wrapping a floral grouping.
The sheet of material 10 preferably has a thickness in a range from
about 0.2 mils to about 30 mils. More particularly, the sheet of
material 10 has a thickness in a range from about 0.2 mils to about
10 mils.
In operation, a floral grouping 28 having a stem end 30 and a bloom
end 32 is disposed on a portion of the upper surface 20 of the
sheet of material. The floral grouping 28 is positioned on the
upper surface 20 of the sheet of material 10 with the stem end 30
extending a distance beyond the second side 18 of the sheet of
material 10 and with the bloom end 32 being spaced a distance from
the first side 16 of the sheet of material 10 and a distance from
the first and the second ends 12 and 14 of the sheet of material
10.
The sheet of material 10 is wrapped about the floral grouping by
taking a portion of the sheet of material near the second end 14
and folding the sheet of material over the floral grouping 28 as
indicated in FIG. 2 by the directional arrow 34. The sheet of
material 10 is wrapped about the floral grouping 28 in at least one
wrap around or a series of wrap arounds until the closure bonding
material 24 is disposed adjacent a portion of the lower surface 22
of the sheet of material 10. In this position, the closure bonding
material 24 bondingly engages and bondingly contacts the adjacent
portion of the lower surface 22 of the sheet of material 10 to
secure the sheet of material lo in a wrapped position about the
floral grouping 28 (FIG. 3) to provide a wrapper 36 with an open
upper end 38 and an open lower end 40.
When the sheet of material is wrapped about the floral grouping 28,
as shown in FIG. 3, the bloom end 32 of the floral grouping 28 is
surrounded by the wrapper 36 yet visible through the open upper end
38 of the wrapper 36. The bloom end 32 is disposed below the open
upper end 38 of the wrapper 36. In this position, a portion of the
sheet of material 10 near the first side 16 and near the second end
14 of the sheet of material 10 extends a distance above the open
upper end 38 of the wrapper 36 to form a top flap 42 (FIG. 3) with
the flap bonding material 26 being disposed on the top flap 42. In
this position, the top flap 42 is folded over the open upper end 38
of the wrapper 36 to a position wherein the top flap 42 extends
over the open upper end 38 of the wrapper 36 and a portion of the
top flap 42 is disposed adjacent a portion of the sheet of material
10 forming the wrapper 36 so that the flap bonding material 26
bondingly engages the adjacent portion of the sheet of material 10
and bondingly connects the top flap 42 to the sheet of material 10
thereby securing the top flap 42 in a position extending over the
open upper end 38 of the wrapper 36 for substantially preventing
the floral grouping 28 from shifting in the wrapper 36 and moving
in a direction 44 (FIG. 3) and extending out from the open upper
end 38 of the wrapper 36. The top flap 42 thereby cooperates to
maintain the floral grouping 28 in the wrapper 36 which is
particularly useful when floral groupings 28 wrapped with the
wrapper 36 are placed in a shipping carton (not shown) for
shipment, the top flap 42 preventing the movement of the floral
groupings 28 out of the open upper end 40 of the wrapper 36 during
the shipment of the floral groupings 28 in the wrapper 36.
The sheet of material 10 preferably is tightly wrapped about the
stem end 30 of the floral grouping 28 and loosely wrapped about the
bloom end 32 of the floral grouping 28 whereby the bloom end 32 is
visible via the opened upper end 38 of the wrapper 36 with the
wrapper 36 forming a conically shaped wrapper 36. The sheet of
material 10 also may be wrapped about the floral grouping 28 to
form a cylindrically shaped wrapper 36 (see FIG. 7 for example) if
desired in a particular application.
"Floral grouping" as used herein means cut fresh flowers,
artificial flowers, a single flower, other fresh and/or artificial
plants or other floral materials and may include other secondary
plants and/or ornamentation which add to the aesthetics of the
overall floral grouping.
EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 5
Shown in FIG. 5 is a modified sheet of material 10a which is
constructed exactly like the sheet of material 10 shown in FIGS. 1,
2 and 3 and described in detail before, except the flap bonding
material 26a more particularly in FIG. 5 is a cohesive material and
another cohesive bonding material 46 is disposed on a portion of
the lower surface 22a of the sheet of material 10a near the first
side 12a thereof so that, when the sheet of material 10a is wrapped
about the floral grouping 28, the cohesive bonding material 46 is
disposed on the outer surface of the wrapper 36.
When the top flap 42a is folded over the open upper end 38a of the
wrapper 36a, the cohesive bonding material 46 is brought into
contact with the cohesive flap bonding material 26a for cohesively
bonding and connecting the adjacent portions of the top flap 42a
and the sheet of material 10a for securing the top flap 42a in a
connected position extending over the open upper end 38a of the
wrapper 36a for the reasons described before in connection with the
wrapper 36 shown in FIG. 3.
EMBODIMENTS OF FIGS. 6 AND 7
Shown in FIG. 6 is a modified sheet of material 10b which is
constructed exactly like the sheet of material 10 shown in FIG. 1
and described in detail before, except the sheet of material 10b
has a top flap 48 formed on a portion thereof. The top flap 48 is
connected to the first side 16b of the sheet of material 10b and
the top flap 48 extends a distance outwardly from the first side
16b of the sheet of material 10b terminating with an end 50. A flap
bonding material 52 (FIG. 7) is disposed on a portion of the top
flap 48 near the end 50.
In this embodiment, the floral grouping 28 is disposed on a portion
of the upper surface 20b of the sheet of material 10b in a manner
exactly like that described before in connection with FIG. 2,
except the floral grouping 28 does not extend angularly over the
upper surface 20b of the sheet of material 10b, rather, the floral
grouping 28 extends about perpendicularly between the first and the
second side 16b and 18b of the sheet of material 10b.
The sheet of material 10b is wrapped about the floral grouping 28
in a manner like that described before in connection with the sheet
of material 10 shown in FIG. 2 to form the wrapper 36b (FIG. 7),
except the sheet of material 10b is wrapped about the floral
grouping 28 to form a cylindrically shaped wrapper 36b as shown in
FIG. 7.
It should be noted that the sheet of material 10b could be wrapped
about the floral grouping 28 in a conical shape like that shown in
FIG. 4 if desired. When the sheet of material 10b is wrapped about
the floral grouping 28 to form the wrapper 36b (FIG. 7), the top
flap 48 extends a distance above the open upper end 38b of the
wrapper 36b, as shown in FIG. 7. In this position, the top flap 48
is folded over the open upper end 38b of the wrapper 36b and the
flap bonding material 52 is brought into contact with an adjacent
portion of the sheet of material 10b for bondingly engaging and
bondingly connecting the end 50 of the top flap 48 to the adjacent
portions of the sheet of material 10b. In this position, the top
flap 48 extends over the open upper end 38b of the wrapper 36b to
substantially prevent movement of the floral grouping 28 and to
substantially prevent the floral grouping 28 from shifting in the
wrapper 10b and extending out from the open upper end 38b of the
wrapper 36b in a manner and for reasons like that described before
in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4.
EMBODIMENTS OF FIGS. 8 AND 9
As shown in FIG. 8 is another modified sheet of material 10c which
is constructed exactly like the sheet of material 10b shown in FIG.
6 and described in detail before, except the sheet of material 10c
also includes a bottom flap 56. The bottom flap 56 is formed on or
connected to the second side 18b of the sheet of material 10b. The
bottom flap 56 extends a distance outwardly from the second side
18b of the sheet of material 10b terminating with an end 58. A flap
bonding material 60 is disposed on the bottom flap 56 with the flap
bonding material 60 being disposed near the end 58 of the bottom
flap 56.
The sheet of material 10c is wrapped about the floral grouping 28
to form a wrapper 36c (FIG. 9) in a manner exactly like that
described before in connection with FIG. 7. In the wrapped
condition of the sheet of material 10c wrapped about the floral
grouping 28, the top flap 48 extends a distance above the open
upper end 38c of the wrapper 36c and the bottom flap 56 extends a
distance below the open lower end 40c of the wrapper 36c. In this
position, the top flap 42c is disposed over the open upper end 38c
and connected to the sheet of material 10c in a manner like that
described before in connection with FIG. 7. The bottom flap 56 is
folded over the open lower end 40c of the wrapper 36c to a position
wherein a portion of the bottom flap 56 near the end 58 thereof is
brought into contact with an adjacent portion of the sheet of
material 10c and, in this position, the flap bonding material 60 on
the bottom flap 56 is brought into bonding contact and bondingly
connects the bottom flap 56 to the sheet of material 10c. In this
position, the bottom flap 56 extends over the open lower end 40c of
the wrapper 36c to substantially prevent movement of the floral
grouping 28 in a direction 62 (FIG. 9) out from the open lower end
40 of the wrapper 36c thereby substantially preventing the floral
grouping 28 from shifting in the wrapper 36c and extending out from
the open lower end 40c of the wrapper 36c.
EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 10 AND 11
Shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is a sheet of material 10d which is
constructed exactly like the sheet of material 10 shown in FIG. 1
and described in detail before, except the sheet of material 10d
does not include flap bonding material like the flap bonding
material 26 on the sheet of material 10 shown in FIG. 1. The sheet
of material 10d is wrapped about the floral grouping 28 in a manner
like that described before in connection FIG. 3 or FIG. 7 to form
the wrapper 36d extending about the floral grouping 28 with the
open upper end 38c and the open lower end 40c.
In this embodiment, a top flap 64 is provided having a first end 66
and a second end 68. The top flap 64 preferably is formed from a
material exactly like the material utilized to form the sheet of
material 10. A flap bonding material 70 is disposed on the top flap
64 near the first end 66 thereof. A flat bonding material 72 is
disposed on the top flap 64 near the second end 68 thereof.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a bottom flap 74 also
is included. The bottom flap 74 has a first end 76 and a second end
78. A flap bonding material 80 is disposed on the bottom flap 74
near the first end 76 thereof. A flap bonding material 82 is
disposed on the bottom flap 74 near the second end 78 thereof. The
bottom flap 74 is constructed of a material exactly like the
material utilized to construct the sheet of material 10 described
in detail before.
In operation, the sheet of material 10d is wrapped about the floral
grouping 28 to provide the wrapper 36d in a manner exactly like
that described before in connection with FIG. 3 or FIG. 7 or FIG. 9
to form a cylindrically shaped or conically shaped wrapper 36d.
After the wrapper 36d has been formed, the first end 66 of the top
flap 64 is placed adjacent a portion of the wrapper 36d and
bondingly connected thereto by way of the flap bonding material 70.
The top flap 64 then is extended over the open upper end 38d of the
wrapper 36d to a position wherein the second end 68 of the top flap
64 is disposed adjacent another portion of the sheet of material
10d. In this position, the flap bonding material 72 near the second
end 68 of the top flap 64 bondingly engages and bondingly connects
the second end 68 of the top flap 74 to a portion of the wrapper
36d thereby securing the top flap 64 in a position extending over
the open upper end 38 d of the wrapper 36d for reasons described
before.
The first end 76 of the bottom flap 74 is then positioned adjacent
a portion of the wrapper 36d near the open upper end 38d of the
wrapper 36d. In this position, the flap bonding material 80 on the
bottom flap 74 is brought into bonding contact with a portion of
the sheet of material 10d for bondingly engaging and bondingly
connecting the first end 76 of the bottom flap 74 to the wrapper
36d. The bottom flap 74 then is extended over the open lower end
40d of the wrapper 36d and a portion of the second end 78 of the
bottom flap 74 is positioned adjacent a portion of the wrapper 10d
near the open lower end 40d thereof. In this position, the bottom
flap 74 extends over the open lower end 40d of the wrapper 36d to
substantially prevent movement of the floral grouping 28 and to
substantially prevent shifting of the floral grouping 28 in the
wrapper 36d in a direction outwardly from the open lower end 40d of
the wrapper 36d.
As described before, the bonding material may be a cohesive or an
adhesive. In one other embodiment, the flap bonding material 26 or
52 or 60 or 70 and 72 or 80 and 82 may comprise the sheet of
material where the sheet of material is heat sealable and, in this
instance, these flap bonding materials would not be a cohesive or
an adhesive actually added on the sheet of material. Rather, the
top flap or the bottom flap would be disposed adjacent a portion of
the sheet of material and heat would be applied to the top flap and
the bottom flap to heat seal the ends of the top flap and the
bottom flap to the wrapper for connecting the top flap and the
bottom flap to the wrapper. Also, the closure bonding material 24
may be formed by using a heat sealable sheet of material and, in
this instance, the closure bonding material 24 would not be a
separate bonding material actually disposed on the sheet of
material. Rather, the sheet of material would be wrapped about the
floral grouping and heat would be applied to a portion of the sheet
of material for securing the adjacent portions of the sheet of
material together to secure the sheet of material in a wrapped
condition about the floral grouping to form the wrapper. The term
"bonding material" as used herein is intended to encompass an
adhesive or a cohesive or a sheet of material constructed of a heat
sealing material or a heat sealing lacquer where heat is applied to
effect the bonding.
In those instances where the sheet of material is not per se heat
sealable, a heat sealing lacquer can be applied. In this instance,
the closure bonding material and the flap bonding material
described herein would comprise a heat sealing lacquer and heat
would be applied to secure the sheet of material in a wrapped
condition forming the wrapper and to secure the top flap and/or the
bottom flap to the wrapper.
EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 12 AND 13
Shown in FIG. 12 is another modified sheet of material 10e which is
constructed exactly like the sheet of material 10 shown in FIG. 1
and described in detail before, except the sheet of material 10e
includes a flap bonding material 84 disposed near the first side
16e and extending between the first and the second ends 12e and 14e
of the sheet of material 10e and the sheet of material 10e also
includes a flap bonding material 86 disposed near the second side
18e of the sheet of material 10e and extending between the first
and the second ends 12e and 14e of the sheet of material 10e. The
sheet of material 10e does not include the flap bonding material 26
shown in FIG. 1 on the sheet of material 10.
The sheet of material 10e is wrapped about the floral grouping 28
to form the wrapper 36e shown in FIG. 13 in a manner exactly like
that described before with respect to the forming of the wrapper 36
in FIG. 3, except it is not necessary to position the floral
grouping 28 or to wrap the floral grouping 28 so that a top flap
like the top flap 42 is formed when the sheet of material 10e is
wrapped about the floral grouping 28 to form the wrapper 36e. The
wrapper 36e when initially formed about the floral grouping 28
includes the open upper end 38e and the open lower end 40e. The
wrapper 36e may be conically shaped or cylindrically shaped
depending upon what is desired in a particular application.
After the wrapper 36e has been formed about the floral grouping 28,
the open upper end 38e of the wrapper 36e is closed by pressing the
opposite sides of the open upper end 36e together bring the flap
bonding material 84 into engagement with either adjacent flap
bonding material 84 or adjacent portions of the sheet of material
near the open upper end 38e for closing the open upper end 38e. In
a similar manner, the open lower end 40e of the wrapper 36e is
closed by bringing portions of the flap bonding material 86 into
engagement with adjacent portions of the flap bonding material 86
or adjacent portions of the sheet of material 10e for bondingly
connecting portions of the sheet of material 10e and closing the
open lower end 40e of the wrapper 36e.
Changes may be made in the construction of the various components,
elements and assemblies described herein and changes may be made in
the steps or the sequence of steps of the methods described herein
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined in the following claims.
* * * * *